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MDA issues reports on state's organic farms

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has published two new resources for organic farmers and others interested in organic agriculture.

The 52-page Organic Farm Performance in Minnesota report offers detailed information about the cost of production and the profitability of organic farming in Minnesota.

The information was provided in 2008 by 74 organic farmers enrolled in Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system farm business management courses. The data was complied by the University of Minnesota Center for Farm Financial Management.

In addition to 2008 data, the report also contains historical information from 2007 and 2006 so readers can consider trends and variability in price, weather, and other factors. To protect the farmers' privacy, the report does not identify the participating farms.

A second publication is the 2009 Directory of Minnesota Organic Farms. More than 250 of the estimated 650 certified organic farms in Minnesota are included in the directory; no farm was listed without its permission.

"We've had great response from farmers and buyers who find the organic directory a valuable resource," says MDA Organic and Diversification Specialist Meg Moynihan.

"It lists the farms in several ways -- both by location and by what they produce -- so farmers can use it to contact each other and food processors can use it to locate ingredients for their organic products."

Consumers interested in organic products are advised to consult a separate MDA publication, the Minnesota Grown Directory, which lists farms that sell direct to consumers and is available at www.minnesotagrown.com.